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strong>Elementary Educators (K-5) [clear filter]
Monday, January 20
 

9:15am EST

AI + Early Literacy Development: The Early Learning Collaborative a Model for Change
Monday January 20, 2025 9:15am - 10:00am EST
In partnership, the Early Excellence Project, The Center that CARES, and Jeremiah's Place have created the Early Learning Collaborative that leverages AI to enhance literacy development, focusing on addressing opportunity gaps for young learners. This project aims to address systemic inequities in literacy by targeting foundational challenges in early childhood education. With a commitment to equity and access, we integrate technology to deliver personalized, culturally responsive literacy support. Attendees will interact with the project’s AI powered curriculum, Waterford, firsthand and explore our approach to assessing impact and adapting to the needs of Black and other historically marginalized children. This session will illustrate how our collaborative model strives to create lasting change in early learning systems.

Objectives 
1. Understand Collaborative Approaches for Equitable Early Literacy Development:
Participants will explore how the Early Learning Collaborative leverages educational technology to bridge equity gaps in early literacy, emphasizing strategies that address root causes in early childhood development for lasting impact.

2. Identify Best Practices in Implementing AI for Early Learning Programs:
Through interactive discussion, participants will identify actionable steps for implementing technology in early learning environments, including key factors that enhance access and equity in literacy programs, to apply within their own schools or organizations.

3. Identify Best Practices in Implementing AI for Early Learning Programs:
Through interactive discussion, participants will identify actionable steps for implementing technology in early learning environments, including key factors that enhance access and equity in literacy programs, to apply within their own schools or organizations.



Speakers
SJ

Shinora Johnson

Chief Operations Officier, The Center That CARES
CB

Cassandra Brentley

Non Profit Leader, Early Excellence Project
Monday January 20, 2025 9:15am - 10:00am EST
Middle School, Room 103

9:15am EST

The Power of Generative AI: Redefining Writing Instruction with WisdomK12
Monday January 20, 2025 9:15am - 10:00am EST
Imagine revolutionizing how students learn to write, with instant, personalized feedback that motivates them to improve faster than ever before. This lecture presents a groundbreaking case study on WisdomK12, an automated writing evaluation tool transforming writing instruction in Northeastern U.S. middle schools. This study, guided by Richard Elmore's renowned instructional core framework, reveals how public and private school teachers and students embrace technology to enhance learning outcomes. Participants found that WisdomK12 not only saves valuable time but also delivers authentic, encouraging feedback, inspiring students to write more and with greater confidence. If you’re invested in improving education with cutting-edge technology, this presentation is your gateway to understanding the future of writing instruction.


In "Generative AI in the Classroom: Redefining the Writing Process," we explore how local school districts have transformed writing instruction using the innovative WisdomK12 generative AI tool. This presentation will showcase qualitative and quantitative data highlighting the tool's impact on student engagement and writing proficiency. Attendees will gain insights from students, teachers, and administrators who have successfully integrated WisdomK12 into their curricula. Discover firsthand experiences and best practices that demonstrate how AI can enhance the writing process. Join us to learn how generative AI is reshaping education, making writing instruction more efficient and effective.

Objectives: 
  1. Apply AI to improve writing.
  2. Emphasize writing in cross-curricular assignments with AI affordances.Leverage AI to improve critical thinking and creativity.
  3. Understand the Integration of Generative AI in Writing Instruction: Participants will learn how the WisdomK12 generative AI tool is being used to redefine the teaching of writing, including the specific methods and strategies employed by local school districts.
  4. Analyze Data and Outcomes: Attendees will review and interpret qualitative and quantitative data collected from the implementation of the WisdomK12 tool, gaining insights into its effectiveness in improving student writing skills and engagement.
  5. Gain Practical Insights from Real-world Implementations: Participants will hear firsthand accounts from students, teachers, and administrators who have used the tool, enabling them to identify best practices and potential challenges in adopting generative AI in their own educational settings.
Speakers
avatar for Eric Sparkenbaugh

Eric Sparkenbaugh

Asst. Superintendent, Montour School District
avatar for Michael Marchionda

Michael Marchionda

CEO, WisdomK12
Michael Marchionda is a seasoned educator, entrepreneur, and thought leader in the intersection of education and artificial intelligence. As the founder and CEO of WisdomK12, Michael has revolutionized how educators and students collaborate, leveraging generative AI to enhance writing... Read More →
TR

Traci Ramey

Cheif Academic Officer, William Penn Academy
Monday January 20, 2025 9:15am - 10:00am EST
Middle School, Room 111

9:15am EST

AI-Powered Classrooms: Bridging the Gap between Humans and Machines
Monday January 20, 2025 9:15am - 10:45am EST
Let's focus on the uses of Artificial Intelligence and how these tools can transform learning. We will talk about Generative AI and dive into its uses, and concerns, and explore how it is evolving and the implications for education and the future of work.

Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the potential of AI for education and why we need to teach about it and use it in our classrooms.
2. Identify how AI can be used to improve student learning and educator productivity and efficiency.
3. Understand the need for students to have these skills and be aware of resources for enhancing learning for academic success. 
Speakers
avatar for Rachelle Dené Poth

Rachelle Dené Poth

Spanish and STEAM Teacher, Consultant, Riverview SD and ThriveinEDU LLC
Dr. Rachelle Dené Poth is an edtech consultant, presenter, attorney, author, and teacher of Spanish and STEAM: Emerging Technology. Rachelle has a Juris Doctor degree from Duquesne University School of Law, a Master’s, and a Doctorate in Instructional Technology. Rachelle specializes... Read More →
Monday January 20, 2025 9:15am - 10:45am EST
Oliver, Room 212

9:15am EST

Conquering the Clock & Making Connections: Designing Meaningful Cross-Curricular Projects to Maximize Student Learning Time (with a little help from AI)
Monday January 20, 2025 9:15am - 10:45am EST
In this interactive workshop, we will inspire educators to embrace collaboration and Design Thinking in designing meaningful, cross-curricular projects that maximize learning time. As we showcase student projects, we will take you through our process, illustrating how we transformed the challenge of limited time into opportunities for creativity and deeper learning. We will share practical strategies for interacting with AI to streamline brainstorming, planning, and resource creation for projects.

You will witness how our students brought action verbs to life in STEAM class by creating stop motion animation films using props made in Art; see how they applied math concepts to design and 3D print cutting tools for clay projects; and feel their excitement as their bioluminescent organism paintings lit up using a paper circuit. Other example projects include coding activities and robotic creations that showcase how technology enhances learning experiences.

After showcasing some of our student projects, participants will embark on a choose-your-own-adventure style workshop, with options to create a hands-on project from a student’s perspective, workshop their own project ideas, or do a combination of both. Participant takeaways will vary depending on individual goals: some may leave with new strategies for effectively interacting with AI, others may leave with project ideas, and some may depart with a blueprint for endless possibilities in making learning meaningful for students.


Learning Objectives:
1. Understand and apply collaborative strategies to design meaningful, cross-curricular projects that enhance student engagement and maximize learning time.
2. Explore how to effectively interact with AI to streamline brainstorming, planning, and resource creation for cross-curricular projects.
3. Create a hands-on project from a student’s perspective, or dive into planning a cross-curricular project or lesson, using us as coaches and brainstorming partners. 
Speakers
avatar for Colleen Hinrichsen

Colleen Hinrichsen

STEAM Teacher, Mars Area School District
Colleen currently teaches STEAM to 2nd-5th grade classes as part of the weekly "specials" rotation at Mars Area Elementary.
KF

Katherine Frye

Art Teacher, Mars Area School District
Monday January 20, 2025 9:15am - 10:45am EST
Oliver, Room 215

9:15am EST

Introduction to Rapid Prototyping in Educational Game Design
Monday January 20, 2025 9:15am - 10:45am EST
Having students make educational games, as a means for presenting content knowledge, can be a fun alternative to writing a paper or doing a presentation. However, lack of coding or design skills can make this task seem intimidating for some learners and educators. This workshop will teach you how to use industry techniques for rapid prototyping, with no coding skills required, to have your students make a basic analog educational game in about an hour. You will leave being able to call yourself a game designer even if you have never tried it before! These skills are applicable for other design projects and all materials will be provided.

Learning Objectives:
1. Participants should be able to utilize rapid prototyping techniques in their own classrooms.
2. Participants should be able to design a quick, basic, educational game.
3. Participants should be able to explain how these techniques may be utilized for other creative design assignments. 
Speakers
RS

Ryan Sittler

Professor, Pennsylvania Western University - California
Monday January 20, 2025 9:15am - 10:45am EST
Oliver, Room 110

10:15am EST

High Schoolers Engaging Elementary Students Through Innovative STEM Lessons
Monday January 20, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am EST
Whether it’s VEX, SkillsUSA or FIRST, these youth robotics programs instill a passion for all things STEM. Garrett County Public Schools (Maryland) leverages this passion by allowing its high school robotics students to teach highly engaging, standards-based, and scalable lessons to all students, grades 2 though 5 - making a systemic impact in our district. These lessons produce many “ah-ha” moments and help ensure that elementary-aged students develop the skills needed for their success in STEM. This session will feature our high school students sharing about their lessons and the “gadgets” they use to teach them -including a LEGO Abacus and Top Spinner, a “math-magic” trick based on the rudiments of binary numbers, a set of LEGO calipers that exactly determine the Golden Ratio and homemade “Makey Makeys”.  Many “gadgets” will be given away. In fact, all participants will take at least one home! This program has been a huge “win-win” success and our students’ passion is contagious. They will inspire you with the difference they make! 

Objectives: 
  1. Participants will learn how high school students can be used effectively in teaching STEM lessons to upper elementary students to promote the development of essential STEM Skills such as spatial reasoning, proportionality, and those found in computational thinking.
  2. Participants will be presented with 5 highly engaging and scalable STEM lesson lessons that are easily replicable and reinforce concepts of multiplication, the binary number system, and the significance of the Fibonacci numbers.
  3. Participants will become familiar with FIRST Robotics and how its programs encourage its teams to make a systemic impact on the schools and communities they serve - making a difference to all students, whether they are on a robotics team or not.
Speakers
avatar for Chuck Trautwein

Chuck Trautwein

Teacher, STEAM Educator, Garrett County Public Schools, Maryland
Monday January 20, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am EST
Middle School, Room 105

10:15am EST

POD x TECH: Using Audio-Storytelling to Enhance Digital and Media Literacy
Monday January 20, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am EST
Since 2018, PART has operated a  K-12 digital literacy program in 8 school districts across the greater Pittsburgh region. We call our program POD x TECH, in abbreviation for two components that represent growing fields of increasing significance to students workforce readiness — podcasts and technology.

Now in its fourth year, the POD x TECH program, in which PART grew the program to 15 classrooms across 12 schools, PART works directly with students in supplementing their year-long curriculum in two equally important ways, where technology is at the intersection of each student's preparedness for continuing education and entry into the workforce.

Attendees will explore PART's methodology, our successes and failures, and leave with tools for their students and schools.

Mike Zula, or “Mr. Mike” is a Pittsburgh native with an education background spanning the state of Pennsylvania, culminating in matriculation from Penn State and Pitt Law—Mike understands the education landscape in Pennsylvania and abroad as it pertains to both higher education and career readiness programs.

Mr. Mike’s passion is situated somewhere between storytelling and technology—how we tell our stories utilizing technology profoundly impacts the way in which future generations will understand our use (hopefully the responsible use) of technology.

A staunch advocate of individualized education and multimodal education methods, bringing Mike and PART into your classrooms, libraries, or board rooms provides an energetic and entertaining look at how we interact with technology in our educational journeys—journeys which are lifelong.

The Partnership to Advance Responsible Technology (PART) is a Pittsburgh-based, independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit think-tank that engages key, multi-sector stakeholders to ensure the responsible research, development, deployment, and governance of emerging and data-driven technologies, notably artificial intelligence. The POD x Tech program is funded by the Grable Foundation.


Objectives : 
  1. Understand the methodology behind the POD x TECH program: Attendees will learn how PART integrates podcasts and technology into K-12 classrooms to enhance digital literacy and career readiness, and how this approach can be applied in their own schools.
  2. Identify key successes and challenges in implementing a digital literacy program: Attendees will gain insights into the growth and development of the program, including practical takeaways from both its successes and challenges, enabling them to better plan and adapt similar initiatives in their institutions.
  3. Gain tools and strategies for enhancing student workforce readiness: Attendees will leave with actionable tools and strategies to integrate technology and storytelling into their educational programs, fostering students’ preparedness for higher education and the workforce.
Speakers
MZ

Mike Zula

Education Program Manager, Partnership to Advance Responsible Technology
Monday January 20, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am EST
Middle School, Room 109

1:45pm EST

AI in the Elementary Level
Monday January 20, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm EST
AI is a part of computer science that is constantly shaping the future around us. Even the youngest learners need to learn this. Let's take a deep dive into some activities and resources to show off AI in the elementary classroom. This session will give background and hands-on activities for the youngest learners to learn about AI. 

Objectives: 
  1. I will understand background information about AI. 
  2. I will do a hands-on activity to introduce AI to the youngest learners.
  3. I will gain resources about AI in the elementary classroom.
Speakers
avatar for Brendan 	Powell

Brendan Powell

K-2 STEM Teacher, Collegium Charter School
Monday January 20, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm EST
Middle School, Room 107

1:45pm EST

Connecting Communities through Cosmic Careers
Monday January 20, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm EST
Connecting Communities through Cosmic Careers:  This panel discussion will focus on career opportunities in the space industry, virtual opportunities for partnerships to explore space careers, how to develop interactive activities for career exploration, and how to increase the impact of career connections by aligning experiences to standards and a common language.  This session will bring together experienced three educators from the classroom, science museum, and business community to explain how they created a series of virtual interactive programs that impacted students across the United States using the RIASEC framework for career connections.

Objectives: 
  1. Attendees will learn about the vast array of career possibilities available to students in the region across the STEAM disciplines.
  2. Attendees will explore virtual opportunities to explore space careers, and interactive activities designed for virtual instruction.
  3. Attendees will explore how they can introduce their students to space careers while aligning to standards-based curricula.
Speakers
avatar for Norton Gusky

Norton Gusky

Educational Technology Broker, NLG-Consulting, LLC
For over 40 years I've been an educator - teacher, CTO, and now an educational technology broker. For more look at my website:https://nlg-consulting.net/about/
avatar for Mike Hennessy

Mike Hennessy

Manager of Learning & Programs, Moonshot Museum
Monday January 20, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm EST
Middle School, Room 101

1:45pm EST

Engaging Students Through AI Songwriting, Scratch Coding, and Makey Makey Activities
Monday January 20, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm EST
Learn how to take your students’ ideas and turn them into engaging songs to help concepts stick. Leveraging AI, teachers can now be song writers and creators. Music sticks in our heads longer than most information, so why not learn to use that to your advantage. Learn to create amazing lesson hooks, engaging activities, and more with some great AI apps. 

Engage your students in creating virtual musical instruments, animations, and games with Scratch! Using Makey Makey, you can introduce them to interactive technology by turning everyday objects like fruit, aluminum foil, or even their own bodies into fun, hands-on controllers for their Scratch projects. Makey Makey lets students see the science behind conductors and insulators while exploring creativity and coding. It’s perfect for STEAM activities, sparking curiosity and making abstract concepts real through touch and play!

Objectives: 
1. Discuss AI and different uses in the classroom
2. Learn to create music with Suno AI, and utilize different programs to help with lyrics.
3. Utilize whiteboard programs to collect ideas and collaborate on this process.
4. Audience will learn to code with Scratch
5. Audience will learn how to use Makey Makey
6. Audience will explore how to use Scratch and Makey Makey in their classrooms.
Speakers
avatar for Junko Yamamoto

Junko Yamamoto

Professor, Slippery Rock University
I used to be a high school Japanese teacher. I have been teaching at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania since 2005. I have taught instructional technology and world language teaching methodology. Hence, I like thinking about "What is a pedagogically sound use of technology in... Read More →
MK

Matt Karabinos

6th grade teacher, Williamsburg Community School District
Monday January 20, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm EST
Middle School, Room 103

1:45pm EST

Learning Adventures: An Expansive Approach to Authentic PBL and Prompt Setting
Monday January 20, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm EST
How would you like to attend school where these were the subjects?

Synthetic Synthetic Biology
Data Activism
Tiny Large Language Models
Dreamtime Design
Micronations
Codes and Cryptography
Inventing Hugo Cabret

Would you know how to teach in such a setting? Would students be more engaged? Would learning be natural and authentic?

Since our students will graduate into a technologically sophisticated and uncertain future, the best educators create environments and experiences that prepare children to solve problems none of us have ever anticipated. The greatest return on investment is when the learner herself is invested in their own growth. For these reasons, and more, the project should be a teacher’s smallest unit of concern.

Many educators share these ideals, but don’t know how or where to begin. Veteran educators strive to make their prompt setting more elegant, evocative, and effective.


Objectives: 
Set better promptsBe a better PBL practitionerBetter understand your own thinking and that of students
Speakers
avatar for Gary Stager

Gary Stager

Founder, CEO, Professor, STEAM Educator, and Author, Constructing Modern Knowledge
In addition to being a popular keynote speaker at some of the world’s most prestigious education conferences, Gary Stager is a journalist, teacher educator, consultant, professor, software developer, publisher, and school administrator. An elementary teacher by training, he has... Read More →
Monday January 20, 2025 1:45pm - 2:30pm EST
Middle School, Room 111

1:45pm EST

Let’s Bring AI into Your Class! A Co-Design Session to Embed AI Literacy into Traditional Subjects
Monday January 20, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm EST
This interactive co-design session empowers K-12 teachers to seamlessly integrate AI concepts into their existing classroom activities, making learning both engaging and relevant for students. Teachers will work collaboratively with the speakers to develop activities that convey essential, practical AI knowledge, helping students build the foundational skills to become responsible, informed decision-makers in a future shaped by AI. No prior AI expertise is required—this session is designed to support all educators. By the end of the workshop, each team of teachers will have crafted an AI-enhanced activity ready to bring into the classroom, helping students build common-sense AI literacy through familiar subjects. Join us to explore accessible, innovative ways to bring AI into your teaching practice!

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify potential AI-related knowledge that suitable for existing learning activities.
2. Create a classroom-ready AI-embedded activity.
3. Design assessment criteria for this AI-embedded activity.
Speakers
RX

Ruiwei Xiao

PhD Student at Carnegie Mellon University, Carnegie Mellon University
Monday January 20, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm EST
Oliver, Room 215

1:45pm EST

Lights, Camera, Learn: Enhancing Science Assessments with Video Production
Monday January 20, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm EST
In this workshop, participants will acquire practical knowledge that will empower them to incorporate video production as a creative and engaging form of assessment in their classes. They will be guided through the video production process, starting with brainstorming and storyboarding, followed by script writing, filming, and editing using tools like iMovie. Participants will explore examples of video assessment use in life science classes and consider how they could apply similar approaches to their subjects. Additionally, they will review example rubrics and design their own, tailored to their specific learning goals. In small teams, participants will have hands-on time to plan, film, and edit a short video, which they will share during the workshop. Afterward, we will discuss the successes and challenges of the process, brainstorming ways to adapt it to fit different classroom settings. By the end, participants will leave with practical ideas and tools to confidently implement video production assessments in their curricula.

Learning Objectives:
1. Understand and explore the video production process: Participants can identify and apply the key steps of video production, including planning, filming, and editing. Participants examine examples of video production used for assessments in life science classes and brainstorm ways to apply this technique to their subjects.
2. Collaboratively create a video and design a rubric for video assessments: Working in small groups, participants will plan, film, and edit a video during the workshop to experience the entire creation process hands-on. They will also create personalized rubrics that align with their specific instructional goals, allowing them to assess student-created videos effectively.
3. Evaluate the process and refine their approach: Participants will reflect on what worked well and what challenges arose, discussing strategies for adapting video production to different classroom environments.
By the end of the workshop, participants will have concrete ideas and tools to integrate video production confidently into their science assessments.
 
Speakers
RK

Ron Kinser

Senior School Science and Global Studies Teacher, Sewickley Academy
Monday January 20, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm EST
Oliver, Room 213

1:45pm EST

Origametria: Teaching K-7 Geometry Curriculum with Origami
Monday January 20, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm EST
Join educators Elizabeth King and Autumn Dillaman for a workshop focused on teaching students from Kindergarten to Middle School geometry through origami. Origametria is a multi-award-winning digital environment for teaching the full geometry curriculum through paper folding. It was founded by Miri Golan and Paul Jackson, world-renowned origami educators. Together, they developed a hands-on platform of 200 animated lessons that are investigative and engaging for all students, including students with learning differences such as ADHD and dyslexia. During this workshop, Elizabeth and Autumn will share their experiences implementing Origametria lessons in grades 2-5 at Falk Lab School. They will also lead participants through several Origametria experiences, which will include easy activities to take back to the classroom.

Learning Objectives:
1. Get introduced to the Origametria curriculum, pedagogy, and online platform.
2. Hands-on experience of a geometry lesson delivered through paper folding.
3. Paper folding geometry activities to take back to your school community.  
Speakers
AD

Autumn Dillaman

Division Director, Elementary, Falk Lab School
EK

Elizabeth King

Elementary Educator, Falk Lab School
Monday January 20, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm EST
Oliver, Room 212

1:45pm EST

STEELS Standards with the Use of Phenomena Based Learning
Monday January 20, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm EST
We will link Phenomenon based learning with the Steel standards. We look at free resources and websites to enhance the students learning.  We will look at the Next Gen storylines, EIE, Yes, and others to teach students in a hands-on lesson.

Learning Objectives:
1. Understand what  Phenomena  Based learning is.
2. Develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and scientific observation skills.
3. By using scientific disciplinary ideas and crosscutting concepts as they engage in engineering and science practices students strengthen their understanding of and facility with both science and engineering. 
Speakers
KL

Krisann Lambert

Teacher, Knoch School District
avatar for Alana Johnston

Alana Johnston

Teacher, Knoch School District
Monday January 20, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm EST
Oliver, Room 112
 
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